Me, my wife (Indian citizens on H1B/H4) and our USC child performed our landing last weekend at Peace bridge near Buffalo, NY and returned to US next day using AVR.
- We had prepared a list of our belongings as 'goods to follow' on plain paper. We included all electronics (TVs, home theater, laptops etc.) individually with serial numbers, two cars with VIN numbers, and other items categorized into broad categories (clothes, furniture, kitchen utensils, kitchen appliances etc.)
- We took photographs of all jewelry and printed those. Estimated the value ourselves. Although nobody asked us for it.
- At the checkpoint, we told the officer that we want to do our landing. He asked us where in the US we were coming from, whether we had any goods that we were importing right now and when do we want to return to US. He wrote all our answers on a yellow form and asked us to park the car and proceed to their office behind the checkpoint.
- Inside the office there are two sets of officers, one handle immigration and others for customs. The immigration officer called us (there was nobody else there and no line to wait). We handed our passports, yellow form from outside and COPR. He asked us statutory questions individually (that are printed on the COPR) and recorded our answer (no) on the COPR. He took the address for PR cards (cousin's) and had no other questions about whose address etc. like some others have reported. Then he asked us to have a seat. There are restrooms here if needed.
- After 15 minutes, he called us back and asked us to sign the COPR. One of the parent has to sign for the minor child. He had also canceled our IM-1 visa in the passport and stamped it indicating the date we became PRs. He welcomed us to Canada and told us about residence obligation and ability to apply for Citizenship after 3 years. He also told us that PR cards will take 6-8 weeks and if we want to travel to Canada by commercial carriers before that, we can show them our valid TRV (visitor) Visas. Overall, he was a very cheerful and polite officer and he really made us feel welcome.
- Next, he sent us to the Customs officers. The lady here had a stern expression and strict way of speaking, but she was not rude, just doing her job. She took our list of goods to follow and told us that whenever we bring these goods in future, we will have to show this list so that we will not have to pay duty. She also told us about the import/export process for cars. She wrote the BSF186 form for us and had me sign it.
- Next we proceeded to the cashier window and he gave us a receipt and stapled the receipt, BSF186 form and our list together.
- Then heading out, there was a toll which could be paid with US EZ Pass.
- Being a weekend we could not apply for SIN while in Canada.
- On returning the next day at rainbow bridge, we presented our passports with expired H1/H4 Visas and approved extension notices. The officer let us in without any significant questions.
